Author: Steven Sahiounie

The outcome of Russia’s presidential election sends a clear message to the West that it cannot rock the boat from the inside, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said. “This was a serious signal to the West, which was banking on shaking the situation from inside Russia. If they can’t do it on the frontline, then try it from the inside. This failed too,” the BelTA news agency quoted him as saying. He stressed that no one can force anything on the peoples of Belarus and Russia. He also noted that it would be expedient to “analyze how the election [in Russia] was held” ahead…

MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/. Brent oil futures with the settlement in May surged to $87 per barrel at the London-based ICE for the first time since November 3, 2023, according to trading data.

The United States has revealed considerations of withdrawing its forces from Niger following the end of their joint military accord. Ongoing discussions between the transitional government in Niger and the United States have examined the withdrawal of US troops from the African nation’s grounds and the steps that would follow, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Monday. When asked about the possibility of concluding US soldiers’ presence in Niger, Patel replied, “This is one of the things that we continue to be discussing with them [CNSP] and discussing next steps.” Niger declared Saturday an abrupt end to a longstanding military agreement…

The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) has announced that it will extend its humanitarian relief programme in Gaza to support the Palestinian people during Ramadan, Emirates News Agency reported on Monday. The ERC has allocated AED 3 million ($817,000) to purchase food supplies for the Iftar project, including rice, wheat, sugar, beans, among others, sourced from Egypt. These provisions are set to sustain 28 community kitchens and 10 bakeries across Gaza. A fleet of 16 trucks, carrying 336 tonnes of food aid, has embarked on its journey from Cairo towards Al Arish, preparing to enter Gaza. “The dispatch of the aid…

Crimea is not merely a strategically important territory; most importantly, it is people who have never separated themselves from Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, speaking at a rally show, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of Crimea’s reunification with Russia. “Crimea is not merely a strategically important territory; it is not only our history, our traditions and the pride of Russia. Most importantly, Crimea is people: people of Sevastopol and people of Crimea. They are our pride!” the Russian leader said. Putin underscored that these people have “kept their faith in the Homeland through decades.” “They have never separated themselves…

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian expressed the country’s determination to enhance relations with Africa in all fields. In a meeting with Iran’s new envoy to Niger, held in Tehran on Sunday, Amirabdollahian said the Iranian administration has great determination to expand relations and cooperation with the African states in all sectors. He also stressed the need to promote political and economic relations between Iran and Niger. The minister emphasized the necessity of implementing the bilateral agreements and holding a meeting of the Joint Economic Commission with the West African state. Foreign Minister of Niger Bakary Yaou Sangare paid an official…

Jordan’s King Abdullah II warned of the catastrophic repercussions of Israel’s war in Gaza on the entire region during a meeting with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on Monday, the Jordan News Agency reported. The Jordanian king has been actively engaging with both regional and international stakeholders since October, advocating for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza. His efforts aim at ensuring the safeguarding of civilians while facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the area by all available means. Notable discussions include his February meeting with US President Joe Biden in Washington, as well as dates with officials from…

US President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday that a major ground offensive in Gaza’s Rafah would be a “mistake,” as the two leaders spoke for the first time in a month amid growing tensions.Netanyahu had also agreed to Biden’s request to send a delegation of senior Israeli officials to Washington to discuss Israel’s Rafah plans and a possible “alternative approach,” the White House said.But in a sign of the increasingly difficult relationship, Netanyahu said that he had insisted to Biden on achieving all of Israel’s war aims against Hamas.The pair last spoke on February 15, and…

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in the caretaker government, Riyad Al-Maliki, today discussed with the Singapoeran counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan efforts to stop the war of genocide waged against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. The Minister also called for the urgent need to accelerate the entry of humanitarian aid to the Strip. During the meeting, which was held at the ministry’s headquarters in the city of Ramallah, Al-Maliki pointed out to the ongoing Israeli violations and war crimes committed against the Palestinian people in the occupied territories, coinciding with the bloodbath waged in the Gaza Strip which enters its 164th day. Al-Maliki called…

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday congratulated his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on winning reelection over the weekend. In the call, Erdogan voiced his belief that the positive course in Turkish-Russian relations will continue even stronger in the days ahead, according to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate. Erdogan added that Türkiye is ready to assume any facilitator role it can in returning to the negotiating table on the Ukraine war, now in its third year. Incumbent Putin got 87.28% of the vote in Russia’s three-day presidential election, with 100% of ballots counted, the country’s election authority said Monday. source: Anadolu Agency